Trying to Make a Race of It

Azeri is not the only member of the field for Saturday’s $250,000 Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park with a win streak on the line.

Although hers is almost certain to end late in the afternoon and is only a third as long as the reigning horse of the year’s, Bare Necessities enters the Grade I with three consecutive victories.

Owned and bred by George Middleton’s Iron County Farms, Inc., and trained by Wally Dollase, Bare Necessities has not lost since finishing fourth in the La Canada Handicap on Feb. 8 at Santa Anita.

In that sense, the 4-year-old gray daughter of Silver Deputy has something in common with Azeri, who will be seeking her 10th consecutive win when she tries to become the fourth two-time winner of the Vanity. Azeri’s only loss in her 13-race career came when she was second to Summer Colony in the 2002 La Canada.

Since chasing Got Koko, Sightseek and the now-retired Bella Bellucci in the Grade II conclusion to the three-race La Canada series, Bare Necessities hasn’t come close to losing.

After shipping north to Golden Gate Fields to win the $60,000 Sacramento Handicap by five lengths March 9, she returned to Santa Anita to win the $75,000 Santa Lucia by 1 1/2 lengths March 30, then, four weeks later, traveled to Hawthorne to take the Sixty Sails by 2 1/2 lengths as the 3-5 choice.

Bare Necessities has six wins in 14 starts and earnings of $566,281.

Her victims during her win streak include Jaramar Rain, Lakenheath, Alexine and Castling. Beating those ladies is one thing, knocking off Azeri is a whole different matter.

Dollase isn’t entering the Vanity, which goes at 1 1/8 miles, believing Bare Necessities is going to succeed where so many other fillies and mares have failed since Azeri made her debut in the fall of 2001.

A strong second behind the 127-pound highweight would be just fine. It would give Bare Necessities a placing in a Grade I, increasing her value after she is finished racing. Although the ultimate decision rests with Middleton, whose operation is located in Arcadia, Mo., Dollase believes Bare Necessities will be retired at the end of this year.

“If she’s able to run second or third, it would increase her value quite a bit,” said Dollase. “George is in the broodmare business and he would breed her to some of the best stallions around. A placing in a Grade I would make her first three foals very valuable.”

A desire to get a Grade I placing is also the reason Dollase will start American Czarina in the Vanity. Owned by a partnership that includes Horizon Stable, the 5-year-old Quiet American mare has won three of 13 with two of the victories coming at Hollywood Park.

In his long career, Dollase, who will turn 66 on Aug. 1, has seen some extremely talented fillies and mares and he trained a couple of them.

Jewel Princess was the champion older female in 1996 and Sharp Cat won a pair of Grade I’s while going unbeaten in four starts for the barn before being retired before the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in 1998.

He believes, though, Azeri is the best he has seen in person. “She’s phenomenal,” he said. “She’s just really something special.”

If Azeri does win the Vanity again, she will become the first repeat winner since It’s In The Air followed up her 1979 victory with another in 1980. Jewel Princess won the 1996 Vanity for Dollase and owners Richard and Martha Stephen but had to settle for third behind Twice The Vice and Real Connection the following year.

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Dollase said Ten Most Wanted, who gave Empire Maker a scare before finishing second in the Belmont Stakes on June 7, will make his next start in the $400,000 Swaps Stakes on July 13 at Hollywood Park.

For Ten Most Wanted, the Swaps will serve as a prep for the $1-million Travers Stakes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga. The Travers, which Ten Most Wanted’s sire Deputy Commander won for Dollase in 1997, is also expected to feature the fourth meeting between Empire Maker and Funny Cide. Empire Maker holds a 2-1 lead over the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner.